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31
N. C. Waterfront Access Study Committee April 2007
The Committee recommends that funding sources and mechanisms, including
those recommended in this report, be made available and tapped to assist working
waterfront and public access facility developers, pursuant to local government
approval, in developing or redeveloping facilities along the waterfront in ways that
comply fully with environmental regulations. There may be opportunity for localities and
the State to work cooperatively on identifying waterfront design and engineering approaches
that meet water quality and other permit requirements in affordable ways. Potentially, this
could be accomplished through any new State- county working waterfront/ public access
advisory structure to be put in place by the State and counties, or through State- supported
outreach educational programs. In other sections of this report, the Committee recommends
formation of such cooperative advisory committees and educational programs.
Need for a Comprehensive Socioeconomic Study
The working waterfronts of North Carolina are an exceedingly valuable resource to
our State. This is true whether we consider the issue purely in terms of economic value, or in
terms of the larger social and cultural fabric of our State and our local coastal communities.
The same can be said of all North Carolina citizens’ ability to gain access to the coastal
public trust waters of the State. The General Assembly’s recognition of these facts led to the
creation of this Committee, and to our charge to search for and recommend ways to retain
and expand our working waterfronts and public access to coastal waters.
Our knowledge of the importance of waterfront access is certain, but it is not precise.
Little quantitative study, or rigorous qualitative study, has been conducted regarding the
value and economic impact of working waterfronts and public access. Nor has there been
systematic, rigorous research into the costs inherent in the retention and expansion of these
resources and opportunities. Further, such studies as have been conducted tend to be
narrowly focused ( e. g., benefit/ cost studies of waterway dredging) and/ or geographically
restricted ( e. g., the economic impact study of Oregon Inlet). As useful as these limited
studies may be, they do not provide the detailed, quantitative, and comprehensive data that
will be needed as the State moves forward with various measures to preserve and enhance
working waterfronts and public access.
The need for such data is both wide and deep:
• The General Assembly would benefit greatly from having such data available as it
considers, prioritizes, and adopts various measures pertaining to waterfront access.
• Members of regulatory bodies ( and the citizens whom they regulate) would better
understand the values, impacts, and costs associated with waterfront access.
• Local governments need to make important and difficult choices in areas including
land use, zoning, and taxation, but at present these officials must do so with very little
precise information regarding the economic consequences of their choices.
• The private sector could make more efficient choices regarding working waterfronts
and public access if those decisions are better informed by comprehensive data; and,
the voters and citizens of the State, of course, will benefit from better understanding

31
N. C. Waterfront Access Study Committee April 2007
The Committee recommends that funding sources and mechanisms, including
those recommended in this report, be made available and tapped to assist working
waterfront and public access facility developers, pursuant to local government
approval, in developing or redeveloping facilities along the waterfront in ways that
comply fully with environmental regulations. There may be opportunity for localities and
the State to work cooperatively on identifying waterfront design and engineering approaches
that meet water quality and other permit requirements in affordable ways. Potentially, this
could be accomplished through any new State- county working waterfront/ public access
advisory structure to be put in place by the State and counties, or through State- supported
outreach educational programs. In other sections of this report, the Committee recommends
formation of such cooperative advisory committees and educational programs.
Need for a Comprehensive Socioeconomic Study
The working waterfronts of North Carolina are an exceedingly valuable resource to
our State. This is true whether we consider the issue purely in terms of economic value, or in
terms of the larger social and cultural fabric of our State and our local coastal communities.
The same can be said of all North Carolina citizens’ ability to gain access to the coastal
public trust waters of the State. The General Assembly’s recognition of these facts led to the
creation of this Committee, and to our charge to search for and recommend ways to retain
and expand our working waterfronts and public access to coastal waters.
Our knowledge of the importance of waterfront access is certain, but it is not precise.
Little quantitative study, or rigorous qualitative study, has been conducted regarding the
value and economic impact of working waterfronts and public access. Nor has there been
systematic, rigorous research into the costs inherent in the retention and expansion of these
resources and opportunities. Further, such studies as have been conducted tend to be
narrowly focused ( e. g., benefit/ cost studies of waterway dredging) and/ or geographically
restricted ( e. g., the economic impact study of Oregon Inlet). As useful as these limited
studies may be, they do not provide the detailed, quantitative, and comprehensive data that
will be needed as the State moves forward with various measures to preserve and enhance
working waterfronts and public access.
The need for such data is both wide and deep:
• The General Assembly would benefit greatly from having such data available as it
considers, prioritizes, and adopts various measures pertaining to waterfront access.
• Members of regulatory bodies ( and the citizens whom they regulate) would better
understand the values, impacts, and costs associated with waterfront access.
• Local governments need to make important and difficult choices in areas including
land use, zoning, and taxation, but at present these officials must do so with very little
precise information regarding the economic consequences of their choices.
• The private sector could make more efficient choices regarding working waterfronts
and public access if those decisions are better informed by comprehensive data; and,
the voters and citizens of the State, of course, will benefit from better understanding